Dining experts - give me your input!

[Melissa R]

Looking for some dining input here. First, a little background. DH and I both grew up going to WDW (I cannot even begin to count how many trips I've made), so we're definitely WDW veterans. However, we definitely don't try a lot of new places when we go. We have a trip coming up in Sept, and DH is a food lover, so I thought it'd be nice to try some new places that we've never eaten at before. I'm looking for your suggestions. By the way, it doesn't have to be sit-down. A counter service place with good food and good atmosphere would also be wonderful (almost better, I guess, since it'd be cheaper) - but I think we've experienced most of them in the parks, so I'd mostly like to hear about them if they're outside the parks.

Here are a few important criteria, though.

* I'm a horribly picky eater. Typically, the food on the kid's menu is what sounds best to me. I could live on chicken fingers and hot dogs, so nothing extravagent will work. We also have two young boys, and the youngest is even pickier than I am.

* OK, I'll say it....I'm CHEAP! The thought of spending $20 on an entree makes my stomach turn. So places that are pricey would have to have something about it that's special enough to justify the cost to my cheapskate self. (I can handle one or two expensive meals, but that's about it.)

Here are some places we've been - Prime Time Cafe, Sci-Fi Dine-In, Whispering Canyon, and Fulton's Crab House. We liked Prime Time, I thought Sci-Fi was overpriced counter-type food, Whispering Canyon was fine, and Fulton's didn't impress me at all. Maybe that will give you an idea of my taste.

I've been reading over menus a little bit, and I'm thinking that maybe OHana's sounds like something we'd enjoy - the food sounds like stuff we'd all eat, and the atmosphere sounds nice (plus we could then go to the beach to watch fireworks maybe?). If anyone thinks this would be a bad idea, please let me know.

Help me out - where do you suggest we go to satisfy DH's desire to eat good food while offering a picky eater some basic choices at a reasonable cost?

Thanks in advance!

 

[StuartMI]

Mcdonalds at Downtown Disney?

 

[Melissa R]

Ummmmm, that's a little too cheap and a little too boring even for me! (Actually, it's probably not that cheap compared to what McDonald's usually costs!)

I'm willing to be a bit more adventurous than that!

 

[StuartMI]

Hmm, ok. It was worth a try.

How about Rainforest Cafe at DTD? If you want an on-property experience, try a character meal. Chef Mickey's Buffet is pretty good and I think is $11 for each child. Adults, I believe are $26, so that puts you over your $20 limit. I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest that's under $20 and satisfies your requirements.

 

[buckylarue]

I think 'Ohana sounds good for your group. Also, how about Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club? Great burgers and sandwiches, and the best desserts on property...

 

[wdwobsessed]

I think you may have to put your chepness aside if you want to enjoy some of the better dining at the world! People always say how expensive WDW is and I always wonder what it's like where they live because where I live it's hard to get a good meal for much less!

Anyway ...

We are kinda picky eaters and I'm with you on the whole "fancy" thing. DH calls it "Froo-froo" food! We like tasty but not exotic with a lotta sauces and such.

With that in mind we enjoy:

Teppanyaki - Go for lunch, cheaper but same food. This meal is very basic but tasty and even my picky DS love it!

Beaches and Cream - YUMMY! We get Connections Vouchers and that makes the meal under $12

Pepper Market - Lots of choices - use Connections Vouchers too.

Crystal Palace Breakfast - Make a late ressie (10:00am) and that can serve for both breakfast and lunch or make a late lunch ressie that can serve for both lunch and dinner.

Hope this helps!

Remember to "do lunch" to save money!

WDWO

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

Here's my suggestion - if your DH is into experimenting. The Tangerine Cafe at Epcot - it's Morroccan food. Great stuff. They sell normal Disney pizza for the picky eaters but have great food for the adventurous folks. My favorite is the Combo plate - Roast Lamb and Chicken with that special sauce that I don't know how to spell. Then Mandarin Oragenge cous cous, hummus with bread to dip in it, ant tabouli. It's great. I also add a side of the lentil salad which rocks too. That's my suggestion.

Enjoy & God bless!
Mark

 

[bethzfl]

The Plaza Restaurant at MK

 

[Melissa R]

Thanks to all for the suggestions so far!!!

Just to clarify - sort of going off of what wdwobsessed said:

I think you may have to put your chepness aside if you want to enjoy some of the better dining at the world! People always say how expensive WDW is and I always wonder what it's like where they live because where I live it's hard to get a good meal for much less!

First of all, I'm not exactly looking to experience "the better dining at the world" - just looking for some new places to go, and sure, I'm looking for more than average food. And yes, I know that prices at sit-down meals at WDW are not really that expensive compared to nice sit-down meals anywhere. However, I'm a stay at home mom, and we don't go to restaurants where meals are $30 a plate. Honestly, since I'm not highly impressed by fancy foods, I don't see the point. Food is something I need so I don't feel hungry - I don't usually get a thrill out of a meal out any more than I do a meal in my home. And if I do want to go out, a burger or chicken sandwich at Chili's or Fridays is great with me.

Obviously, since this is our vacation, and I want it to be enjoyable for DH too, I'm looking into new restaurants, and I'm willing to pay the $20-30 per plate for a few meals, if it's going to be someplace that we can all enjoy. But even last year, when we went to Fulton's, DH wasn't terribly impressed. So that's what I'm looking for, I guess - someplace with good enough food to make the higher price worth it.

Maybe that clarifies a little more. I'm not so totally focused on the cost, as long as I can find something that I will eat and will be an enjoyable meal - both atmosphere and food.

 

[wmarsich]

I have been reading the boards now for a few months and based upon your criteria and the reviews that I have read from previous posters, consider these:

Liberty Tree Tavern - character meal with a colonial theme
Pecos Bill - Couter service, but with a great toppings bar
Mama Melrose - Good Italian food, flatbreads sound great!
Kona Cafe - Lots of compliments about this one at the Poly and not too exotic
Trails End Restaurant - Lots of good reviews and reasonable prices

Even .... Hoop Dee Doo might be fun for your family!

Hope this helps!

 

[scotthart]

I second Beaches and Cream, the Garden Grille in Epcot is a good choice for homestyle type food (if the Land pavilion is open during your stay). Ohana's is awesome, its a must do for us every trip. Try the Lapu-Lapu cocktail served in a hollowed out pineapple. YOu might also check into Mickeys Backyard BBQ at FT Wilderness, lots of BBQ, fried chicken, etc. It is also a buffet/character meal, and if you time it right you can go see a movie with Chip N Dale around the campfire afterwards. The Hoop De Doo Revue is also great at FW and is also homestyle type food that includes a hilarious dinner show. If you are looking for a cheap alternative try an ice cream social at the Garden Grill, for about 1/4 of the cost of a character meal you can eat ice cream with Mickey, Pluto, and Chip n Dale. Good luck, bring me back any leftovers.

 

[Melissa R]

Ah, yes, Trails End. We've been there a few times and loved it!!! I have to remember to go back there.

I just read about Garden Grille, and it sounds like exactly what I'd like, so I think it'll be a definite.

Beaches and Cream sounds easy to make everyone happy, and that would get us to a new resort.

Thanks, all, and keep it coming!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

How about Le Cellier? I think the food there is pretty normal. It can be expensive, but maybe try it for lunch and it would be less $$$.

 

[tweetylori]

How about a nice Big Kahuna Burger at Kona Cafe? It looked wonderful! (wish I'd ordered it). Then be sure and have a dessert or two or three or five there.

Chefs de France...very reasonable for lunch...the food is simple to more complicated, and very tasty. They put new meaning to ham and cheese.

 

[CamColt]

I too am a picky eater and some of my favorite, not too expensive places are Kona Cafe, ESPN, and Mama Melrose. While its a little more money, Im a big fan of Ohana too.

 

[wdwrich]

Tusker House at DAK has very good food at counter service prices.

 

[erikthewise]

I will second the Garden Grill suggestion, though you may find it a little pricey. If so, try it for lunch. It's a couple dollars cheaper and you get everything but the dinner salad.

Also --
Columbia Harbor House in MK -- my favorite counter service place. A break from the burgers & fries routine.

House of Blues at DD -- good burgers and American food, with emphasis on New Orleans cuisine. Killer jambalaya!

 

[gina2000]

It sounds like both of you are into different experiences. I might try Spoodles...not too expensive, a bit off the beaten track foodwise and a kids menu which may satisfy your taste. I'd also try Wolfgang Puck's Cafe in Downtown Disney. You can order something relatively plain and he can order something a bit more exotic. Those are the two sit downs I'd do.

As far as counter service, I would probably tend to graze in Epcot. You could go American and your DH could choose whatever strikes his fancy.

 

[erinch]

I'd highly recommend a trip to the Animal Kingdom Lodge--
Boma is wonderful (and has kids mac n cheese and fingers for you while truly wonderful African gourmet fare for DH). Strolling around and looking at the hotel and the animals is like a mini-vacation. Boma Breakfast buffet is also wonderful. It used to be that you needed a reservation to come on the property, but they let us on when we told them that we wanted to pick out our room location for a coming visit. If you can get in at lunch time MARA has some above standard food-court food, and again has the wonderful location.

When we stayed at POR I became a huge fan of their breakfast pizza.

You undoubtedly know you can eat offsite for much less. We stayed at the Vistana and became a fan of the Bennigan's right next to them. If you go at happy hour and one of you orders a beer or glass of wine, they bring out 2 for the price of one. They have an awesome monte cristo sandwich, which is big enough for 2 and can be ordered with steamed broccoli rather than fries and costs less than $8.00. If it were at a disney restaurant it would be written up in everyone's reviews.

 

[Gary M]

'Ohanas is a place DW and I tried this past winter, after several trips to WDW. We really enjoyed it. Find out when the fireworks(Wishes) are and make a PS for that time. Ask for a window seat and if available, it is really a nice experience.

For lunch you might try Flame Tree BBQ at AK. Get a seat by the pond and have a relaxing meal.

You might look into Cape May at the BC.

You might go to www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm for the menus at WDW.